While many Arsenal fans are currently getting caught up in the excitement of the summer transfer window, and rightly so, there are still some issues that need to be resolved closer to home. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are both still trying to sort out their contract ordeals at the Emirates, and it’s clear to see that Unai Emery has a specific vision regarding what kind of players he’s interested in keeping on the books at the club as he prepares for his first season in charge.

As reported by BBC Sport, 20-year-old Arsenal superstar Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed a new long-term contract extension with the club. The youngster already has a wealth of experience both in the senior team and with England at the youth level, and the midfield maestro seems to be improving with each and every passing game.

In an era such as this whereby young and passionate English stars are hard to come by, it’s great to look at someone like AMN and know that he could be one of the next big things in this country. That may sound like we’re being a bit too overexcited with our prediction, but at the very least, he’ll be given the time to develop in an Arsenal setup full of players who are looking to make a name for themselves.

Unai Emery isn’t wasting any time in getting as much business done as he possibly can prior to the World Cup, and the fact that Maitland-Niles has signed his contract now shows that he was always considered to be a priority. He may not have quite reached the heights of some other big names around his age range, but in the modern era, the media are always quick to throw superlatives at someone who may have shown a few flashes of brilliance.

You could certainly argue that we’re doing the same thing, but the difference is that nobody else is giving him the time of day by comparison. He’s slowly flying under the radar, and in a few years time, we’re confident in saying that he’ll be one of the key figures behind Arsenal’s rise back up to the top of English football. If we’re wrong, then we’d be more than happy to revisit this piece in 2020.